Locking device for automobiles



C. W. DUNN.

LOCKING DEVICE FOR AUTOMOBILES.

APPLlCATlON FILED DEC. 26, 1919.

1,382, 179. Patented June 21, 1921.

L 3 f 1 EIQ.E. FIQ E Q v Can/$132151? VK .Du/wv (II- 1R1STOPHER W. DUNN, F MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN.

LOCKING DEVICE non AUTOMOBILES.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented J 11110 21, 1921,

Application filed December 26, 1919. Serial No. 347,403.

Be it known that I, CHRISTOPHER \V. DUNN, a citizen of the United States, re siding in the city of Milwaukee, county of Milwaukee and State of WVisconsin, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Looking Devices for Automobiles, and do hereby declare the following to be a full clear, and complete description thereof, such as will enable persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates to manufacture and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawing for disclosure as to details of one construction in which the invention has been embodied.

My invention relates to a locking device for automobiles.

The invention is embodied in a construction which will lock the clutch shifting members in an open position; so that the clutch cannot be operated to connect the driving mechanism of the car while the parts are locked in their unclutched position.

The purpose of the invention is to provide means which will. prevent the unauthorized operation of the automobile, and I achieve this result by devices of simple construc-' tion which will prevent such unauthorized movement of the car, and place the same under the control of the owner or operator of the car, who will be provided with a key for the locking mechanism.

My invention comprises a lock mounted upon the steering post of the automobile, which look is connected to a sliding locking member adapted to be moved into engagement with the parts controlling the clutch, when the latter are properlypositioned and the clutch members separated.

The locking mechanism is inclosed in a casing which prevents an outsider tampering there-with.

In the accompanying drawings Figure 1 is a view in vertical section on the line 1-1'of Fig. 2, showing in elevation the steering post and wheel of a common type of automobile, and showing my locking mechanism. in conjunction therewith.

Fig. 2 is a sectional plan view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1 showing the locking devices; and Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view looking from the underside of the steering post and showing the arrangement of the'lock by means of which the unauthorized operation, of he mobile is P vented.

7 their ii'ioperative position.

Like reference characters in the drawings are applied to the same part.

Referring to the drawings, A indicates the steering shaft of an automobile which is mounted in the steering post B and pro vided with a hand wheel C of usual construction, and mounted in the customary mannerupon the footboard oi the automobile,

A length of angle iron D is secured at its ends to the opposite side bars of the automobile frame and has mounted thereon a casing inclosing the members which serve to lock the clutch shifting devices in This casingE will. be so formed. as to fill the space he tween the angle iron D andthe toot-board of the automobile, so as to inclose the locking mechanism and prevent access thereto by unauthorlzed parties, without destroy- 'ing the casing. The clutch pedal F passing through the foot-board works in a slot 7 in the rear side of the casing, and has pivoted thereto at f a depending link f guided in a restricted opening 7' in the top of the angle iron D.

A sliding latch G is mounted on the upper side of the angle iron D and is guided thereon by studs 1 in the angle iron and working in slots 9 provided in the latch. This latch G has a lug which is adapted to be passed into a notch in the depending link 7 when the latter is depressed by the actionof thepedal. The'latch G is extended at one end and reduced as at r for the reception of a spiral spring which is confined between a stud g on the end of the reduced portion of the latch, and a fixed guide attached to the angle iron D, and perforated for the passage of the said reduced portion. The expansive force of the spring normally serves to hold the lug in the position indicated in Fig. 2 of: the drawings, and out of engagement with the notch g in the depending link f At the underside of the steering post, a casing H is aflixed. This casing has at its upper end a lock it of convenient construction, which is adapted to receive and retain the bolt ii of a sliding member 71? which is confined within the casing H and limited therein by pins h and it working in the slots k in the lower side of the casing. The pin it is elongated so as to provide a projecting knob by means of which the bolt Zr may ing on the knob h thereof transmits the motion to the slide G, to bring the lug 9 into engagement with the notch 9 whenthe latter is properl positioned. Suitable guiding pulleys for dlrecting the course of the cable a steering post, a casing securedthereto and.

are provided.

From the foregoing, it Will be seen that I V have provided a locking device of simple and economical cons'tructionwhich will serve to prevent the operation of the automobile by persons not authorized to do so. Modificationsv of the construction may be made without departing from the spirit of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Pat-i ent of the United States, is V 1; In a locking device for automobiles, a

pedal, a link pivoted thereto and provided with a locking notch, a slide provided with a lug for engaging the notch, when the pedal is in its lower'position, in combination with containing a lock and locking bolt, and connections between the said slideandthe bolt whereby the lug on the slide is engaged with notch therein when the'lo'cking bolt is re-- leased from the lock. l 2. In a locking -device for an automobile, a pedal, a depending link provided with a notch pivoted thereto and guided for vertical movement, a spring retracted slide provided with a lug for engaging the notch when the pedal is depressed, anda casing inclosing the parts, in combination with a steering post, a casing attached thereto and containing alock and lockingbolt, and connections between; the bolt and the slide for engaging the lug with the notch upon move-v ment of the bolt. V a v a 3. A locking means for automobiles, comprising a pedal, a notched link actuated therefrom and moving in a fixedpath, a slide provided with a lug for engagement with the notch and movable transversely to the link, a lock for holding the link and slide in engagement, and means connecting the lock and the slide to actuate thev latter into "locking position when the pedalis'depressed.

In testimony whereof, I have; signed my name at Milwaukee, this 18th day of December, 1919. c a

Witnesses; V

W. F. Woo AnD, i' A. RrWoonrorxr, Jr.

cnnrsrornnn W. DUNN. 

